World Briefs: Iraq sees highest monthly death toll in 5 years

BAGHDAD - More than 1,000 people were killed in Iraq in July, the highest monthly death toll in five years, the U.N. said Thursday.

The grim figure indicates rapidly deteriorating security as sectarian tensions soar nearly two years after American troops withdrew from the country.

Violence has been on the rise all year, but the number of attacks on civilians and security forces has spiked during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which began last month. The bloodshed has intensified fears that Iraq is on a path back to the widespread chaos that nearly tore it apart in the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003.

ITALY

Berlusconi calls conviction for fraud 'baseless'

ROME - Former Premier Silvio Berlusconi says the Italian Supreme Court's decision to uphold his tax fraud conviction and jail sentence is ''baseless" and robs him of his political rights.

Berlusconi delivered a nine-minute video statement Thursday, hours after he was definitively convicted for the first time in decades of criminal prosecutions.

The three-time former premier and media mogul appeared shaken and somber in his video statement, his voice breaking at times.

He said he was the victim of "an incredible series of accusations and trials that had nothing to do with reality."

Berlusconi, 76, denounced the court's decision, saying it was "based on nothing and … deprives me of my freedom and political rights."

SECURITY

U.S. will close some embassies as a precaution

The U.S. will close a number of embassies and consulates on Sunday as a "precautionary" step because of unspecified security concerns, a State Department official said Thursday.

"The Department of State has instructed certain U.S. embassies and consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday," said Marie Harf, the department's deputy spokeswoman. Harf didn't say which diplomatic facilities would be closed, how many, where they're located or the threats.

A State Department official said the embassies and consulates that have been told to close are ones normally open on Sundays. That would include the embassies in the Muslim world, where the work week generally is from Sunday to Thursday.